Doctor Who Got a Vaccine Fudge is Suspended for 18 Months
In a twist that could give any crime‑fighter a nervous knock, a Singapore GP has been hit with the longest penalty the Medical Council can give him — a full 18‑month suspension. The culprit? A doctor who swapped real Covid shots for plain saline, and sold the illicite med‑market on a subscription basis.
What He Did
- Fake Vaccinations: Over the holiday season, the doctor gave about fifteen patients ‑ not a single dose of a proper vaccine, but salty saline injections. He still filed those patients as “vaccinated” in the national registry, cashing in $1,000‑$1,500 each.
- Remote Testing Lurking in the Shadows: For nearly five hundred people, he organised “online” Covid tests — a practice that was absolutely not allowed back then. Patients could pay a monthly fee of $125 or $12 per test, and the results would be magically added to an official MOH database via a staff member dubbed “C.”
- Fake Exemption Letter: One client asked for a vaccination exemption. Even though the test came back negative, the doctor rigged a positive record with “C”’s help, and handed over a letter that said the woman had recovered, thus exempting her from any COVID rules.
Why the Council Pulled the Plug
The Singapore Medical Council (SMC) blasted these acts as a public safety nightmare and a threat to the credibility of the nation’s health system. With the patient pool towering at around 430 remote tests, the risk spiked for vulnerable citizens who might inadvertently interact with infected, or simply be misled by this crooked scheme.
The SMC’s interim orders committee didn’t just list violations – it opened a whole twistable scroll of why it couldn’t trust a single guardrail. Despite the doctor’s protest that he was cracking under extreme fatigue, the committee stayed firm: no conditional paperwork will save this circus.
The Backstory: Financial Strain or Med. Greed?
Quah, who’s 33 and a single dad, said he’d worked 12‑hour days a week. He’s drowning in debts: roughly $600,000 in clinic loans and a $2 million mortgage. He aimed to shift to a locum or supervised role to keep paying the bills while staying out of Covid hassles.
But given the doctor’s history of flouting rules, the committee and the public were skeptical about any such arrangement being safe.
Legal Cross‑Roads Ahead
Beyond the Medical Council’s ruling, the doctor faces criminal investigations. He was arrested on January 21, alongside clinic assistant Thomas Chua (40) and anti‑vaccine activist Iris Koh (46), who allegedly conspired to fraudulently file fake vaccination records.
He was granted a bail of $20,000 after a quick court appearance on January 31. The ongoing case will decide his fate in the judicial system.
Bottom Line
In short, a doctor’s desire to make a quick buck has knocked out his licence and put him on the path to potential jail. The 18‑month suspension may be a short story for a plague‑phobic nation, but it sends a clear message: medical misconduct will not be tolerated.
